Analyses of Condenser Brass Tube Leakage

For the frequent leakage of brass tubes in a petroleum refinery operated for only 3 months, component analysis, performace test, ammonia smoked experimentation, metallographic analysis, microhardness test, scanning electron microscope identification and analysis of X-ray energy spectrum were used to analyzed the tube. The main reason of brass tube leakage was found as follows: too slow flow velocity of seawater and too much suspended substance in seawater resulted in fouling in the pipe and thus leading to deposit corrosion and perforation of the brass pipe. Some measures to prevent the corrosion were proposed.